> Nowadays, we consume several times more fructose than we did 100 years ago.

Nowadays people consume very many more calories than we did 100 years ago, and people in countries where HFCS isn't used still get fat.

When someone says they stopped eating HFCS it's not stopping the fructose that helps them lose weight, it's stopping drinking all those extra empty calories that helps them lose weight.

> many more

That's not the same as several times more. If I remember correctly, it was something along the lines of 500% more. It's a crazy amount of fructose. And there usually is very little fiber (which you'd get with fruits) to slow down the absorption rate.

HFCS isn't that different from sugar. The only real problem is that it's even cheaper than sugar.

Theoretically, you could use a bit less because it's a little bit sweeter than sugar, but no one seems to do that.

HFCS is a very cheap way to make your crappy product taste like something. That's why it's everywhere.

Since fructose is sweeter, shouldn't it be harder with fructose - i.e., for the same sensation, you'd consume less fructose and thus less calories?

I would guess that it gets you used to sweeter flavors, craving more and needing more to hit the same level of sensation once you'd acclimated.

I believe I've seen studies that show that even artificial sweeteners leave you with a sweet tooth that cause you to seek out more sugary foods without realizing it.

I know from personal experience, that after I had stopped drinking soda for a while, when I try it again I find it cloyingly sweet. I can't stand the stuff. But for people who have been used to drinking it for years, it tastes perfectly normal.

I agree. Since I've decided to stop drinking cola and such beverages (about 8 years ago) I'm surprised how unpleasant and over-sugared their taste seems to me now. But this goes both for sugar and fructose - once the habit is broken, you really don't need it anywhere.